To induce us to
follow Him, He gives us Himself as an example and promises
us a reward in His kingdom."

Saint Anthony

The General Rule of the Order

The Three Aims of the New Order of St. Francis & St. Clare (NOSF) are:To
make ourLord known and loved everywhere. By word and example, Brothers
& Sisters witness to Christ in their daily lives. By prayer and
sacrifice they help forward God’s work, wherever they are called.To spread the spirit of fellowshipBy
working happily with people regardless of race, color, creed, gender identity, education
and opportunity, Brothers & Sisters seek to break down the
divisions in the world. They try to live in the spirit of the
Franciscan prayer: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.”

To live simplyAcknowledging that everything belongs to God, Brothers & Sisters seek to use God's
gifts wisely acting as good stewards of this fragile earth, never
destroying or wasting what God has made. They provide the things
necessary for themselves and their families without demanding luxuries. They seek never to forget the needs of others.

Chapter One: Ecclesiastical Oversight

The New Order of St. Francis & St. Clare (NOSF), is an Ecumenical Catholic Religious Order of the World wide "Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ".Membership is open to everyone, seeking a spiritual life in community, regardless of ones gender or sexual orientation, living side by side.

Chapter Two: Stages of CommitmentEachmember will progress through the following stages of commitment:

Novitiate -
The Brother or Sister, will be assigned a spiritual director who will
help examine the charisma of Franciscan Spirituality and help the Novice
determine if the Order is a positive step for them.

Temporary Profession
- The Brother or Sister will live under temporary vows for a period of
one year. The brother or sister will use this initial year to discern if
this is indeed a path of life they wish to follow.

Final Profession-
Thetemporarily vowed Brother or Sister can, after a year of
discernment, make a permanent profession of vows at their own written
request to the Episcopal Protector. Permanent vows are a lifetime
commitment to be joined to the Order and to follow the Rule of St.
Francis.

Chapter Three: Daily LifeThe
Brothers& Sisters of the Order in Monasteries shall wear their habits, and dress simply when in secular
clothing. They seek to live a life that is unencumbered by excessive
material possessions and one of peace and harmony with all humankind and
nature.

The
Brothers & Sisters should live according to their
individual state of life. They should refrain from meetings, that are dangerous to one's spiritual well
being. They should avoid unholy conversation - always mindful of the life all Christians are called to.

Each Brother and
Sister is encouraged to be actively involved with issues of the
environment, children's education, the elderly, the poor, race relations, human
rights, etc. This involvement may be expressed either as involvement
with groups relating to these issues, personal work with individuals or
by intercessory prayer.

Chapter Four: Abstinence, Fasting and other penitential disciplinesAll
Brothers & Sistersshall observe a strict fast on all Fridays of Lent. Any Brother or
Sister may substitute abstinence and fasting with any other specific
behavior which, for them, will require sustained and meaningful
discipline to maintain. Other acts of charity or penance such as
visitation to the sick and infirm or additional time of prayer and
meditation are greatly encouraged.

Chapter Five: PrayerAll
Brothers & Sistersare to pray the Daily Office of the Church
consisting of, at least, Morning, Evening, & Night prayer. In
addition, they are to prayerfully read and ponder the daily Mass
lectionary especially the Gospel reading each day. All ordained clerics are to pray the Office of Readings in addition to the other offices.

Chapter Six: The Sacraments, Other MattersAll Brothers & Sistersare to make a confession of their sins through the Sacramentof Penanceat least once a year, unless they have committed grave sin in which case confession should be sought as soon as possible.Brothers
& Sisters are to receive communion daily if available. Those ordained as Priests or Bishops should
make every effort to celebrate the Eucharist daily.

Brothers
& Sisters are not to take up lethal weapons, or bear them against
any person unless it is part of their secular occupation.

Brothers
& Sisters are to refrain from formal oaths, unless necessity compels
for peace, for the Faith, to refute slander, and in bearing witness.

Chapter Seven: Correction, Dispensation and OfficersEach
Brother or Sister owes obedience to Almighty God, to the “Rule”, and to all duly elected officers of the Order as it pertains to a members
spiritual growth and well being.Here ends the Rule of the New Order of St. Francis & St. Clare.

”All
powerful, all holy, most high and supreme God, sovereign good, all
good, every good, you who alone are good, it is right that we must give
all praise, all glory, all honor, all blessing: to you we must refer all
good always. Amen”